Category: 2022

Turkey ready to move Armenia normalisation talks to Yerevan and Ankara

Ani Kharatian

Aug 11 2022
Source says taking negotiations from third-party countries would be a positive confidence-building step, but it is unclear whether the Armenians agree
By 

Ragip Soylu

 in 

Ankara

Turkey wants to move normalisation talks with Armenia to their respective capitals after conducting previous discussions in third countries.

A Turkish diplomatic source told journalists on Wednesday that Turkey's special representative to Armenia, Serdar Kilic, was ready to visit Yerevan and there meet his counterpart, Ruben Rubinyan.

Ankara and Yerevan launched a dialogue on normalisation last year and have so far held four meetings in cities such as Moscow and Vienna.

Last month, Turkey and Armenia decided to begin direct air-cargo trade and open their land borders to third-country citizens as soon as possible.

The two countries don't have a formal diplomatic relationship, and Turkey  sealed its border to Armenia in the early 90s after the latter's seizure of nominally Azerbaijan territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. They also disagree over the Armenian genocide, with Turkey rejecting the term for the 1915 Ottoman mass killings and insisting there were deaths on both sides.

Ankara and Yerevan are holding direct talks for the first time after a normalization attempt under Swiss mediation failed in 2009. Azerbaijan's recapture of most of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 enabled Ankara to start a new initiative, which was welcomed by the Armenian government.

The source underlined that Azerbaijan wasn't part of the talks, and the conversations were strictly between Armenia and Turkey. Yet, the source said that they cannot completely ignore the tensions and developments between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which can directly impact the parties' mentality going into talks.

Armenian and Azerbaijani forces have both been accused of breaking a Russian-brokered ceasefire in recent days.

The Turkish diplomatic source said Armenia doesn't appear to be willing to move the talks to Ankara and Yerevan unless there is a significant breakthrough in discussions. The source added that moving talks to the respective countries would itself be a breakthrough, and they should do so to progress talks in a more positive environment. 

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Middle East Eye has asked the Armenian foreign ministry for comment.

Ankara is in favour of developing normalisation with concrete confidence-building steps that will prepare public opinion in both countries for greater steps. Turkey is prioritizing measures that will not lead to excessive expectations on both sides and that are welcomed in both countries and will be taken "step by step". 

The source said there were unexpected challenges in opening the land border for third countries due to insufficient infrastructure at crossings, which may delay the step.

For example, the physical conditions at the Alican and Akyaka border crossings, which have not been used for more than 30 years, need to be improved. Kilic, Turkey's special representative for the normalisation process with Armenia, went to the border after the last meeting with Rubinyan and made inspections at the crossings.

That is why Turkey and Armenia will first need to hold technical talks among the relevant bureaucrats to resolve the infrastructure issues in September. The special envoys may then hold another round of talks in Ankara or Yerevan, if Armenia agrees.

The source described the atmosphere between Kilic and Rubinyan as a very cordial and friendly, with them frequently calling each other to resolve minor issues. The source said there might have been hundreds of calls between the two.

The source said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan last month was also very positive.

While confidence-building measures were prioritized in the talks, "difficult" issues between the two countries, especially the Armenian genocide, were not brought up. 

Ankara believes that it would not be "rational" to discuss the "difficult" issues between the two countries at this stage. However, the Turkish source appreciated that Armenia publicly restated that it doesn't have any land demands from Turkey.  

Local reports last month suggested that Turkey had been clearing mines on the Armenian border, which triggered speculation that Ankara was readying itself to fully open the border. However, the Turkish diplomatic source said the mine clearance wasn't related to the diplomatic talks, but to the multinational Ottawa Convention, which mandates Turkey to clear its borders of land mines.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-armenia-normalisation-talks-ankara-ready 

Armenia Banking Market 2022 | Growth Demand, Opportunities, Revenue and Forecast To 2030

Lena Karagyozian
Digital Journal
Aug 12 2022

By

Allied Analytics

Published

Allied Market Research published a report, titled, “Armenia Banking Market by Sector (Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, and Investment Banking) and Type (Closed Joint-Stock Company [CJSC] and Open Joint-Stock Company [OJSC]): Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019–2026”.

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The report offers an extensive analysis of changing market dynamics, key investment pockets, major segments, value chain analysis, competitive landscape, and investment feasibility. The research offers a detailed analysis of drivers, restraints, and opportunities of the Armenia banking market. These insights provide necessary guidance to determine driving factors and implement strategies to gain a sustainable growth and tap on opportunities to explore the potential of the market.

The research provides a comprehensive analysis of driving factors, restraining factors, and opportunities of the Armenia banking market. This analysis is helpful in identifying driving forces, achieving maximum growth, and adopting strategies to sustain in the market. Furthermore, investors, market players, and new entrants are able to gain insights to explore the Armenia banking market potential, avail new opportunities, and gain the competitive advantage. Detailed elaboration of each factor is mentioned in the report to help market players in thorough understanding.

Extensive Segmentation

• By Type
o Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC)
o Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC)

• By Sector
o Retail Banking
o Corporate Banking
o Investment Banking

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Covid-19 impact Analysis

  • Manufacturing activities of Armenia banking market halted due to lockdown measures taken place across many countries. Moreover, supply chain disruptions and shortage of raw materials created challenges in carrying out manufacturing in full capacity.
  • The demand from end use industries reduced significantly due to halt in day-to-day operations during lockdown. However, the demand would grow steadily during post-lockdown as daily operations get back on track.
  • The ban on import-export activities led to supply chain disruption and supply-demand gap. As the restrictions are lifted off, the supply chain will be restored.

The report offers a detailed scenario of the Armenia banking market during the Covid-19 pandemic. These insights are helpful for market players, investors, startups, and others to revise their strategies and minimize the impact on their businesses. The impact mentioned in the report is the result of thorough research.

Competitive Landscape

The report offers a detailed analysis of major market players operating in the Armenia banking market. The leading market players profiled in the report are Ameriabank CJSC, ARARATBANK OJSC, ArmSwissBank CJSC, Converse Bank CJSC, HSBC Armenia, ID Bank, ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK CJSC, ArmBusinessBank CJSC, Ardshinbank CJSC, and Inecobank CJSC. The competitive landscaope and the strategies adopted by market players are mentioned in the report.  These Armenia banking market players have adopted various strategies such as new product launches, partnerships, joint ventures, collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, expansion, and others to avail sustainable growth and strengthen their presence in the Armenia banking market.

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NSW State Conference of Australian Liberals recognises the Republic of Artsakh and Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides

Janet Ekmekjian
Public Radio of Armenia
Aug 12 2022
, 11:21

 3 minutes read

The New South Wales Liberal Party State Conference has adopted a motion calling on the Federal Australian Government to recognise the independence of the Republic of Artsakh, as well as accurately characterise the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).

The Liberal Party is one of the two major political parties in Australia, and this motion was moved by Bennelong Branch member and City of Ryde Councillor, Trenton Brown on 6th August 2022. It was adopted without dissent by all voting delegates at the State Conference Annual General Meeting.

In line with motions previously passed in both houses of the New South Wales and South Australian parliaments, the motion called on Australia to recognise the rights to self-determination of the Armenians of the Republic Artsakh.

Significantly, this motion also condemned the war crimes committed by Azerbaijani petro-dictator Ilham Aliyev during the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war against the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh, which resulted in the occupation of 70% of the self-determined Armenian Republic of Artsakh.

Brown’s motion also called upon the Australian Government to accurately recognise the 1915-1923 Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire, which has also been recognised by the New South Wales and South Australian Parliament, and debated favourably by the Federal House of Representatives.

Prominent members of the NSW Liberal Party and Australian Liberal Party were present at the State Conference including NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, NSW Liberal Party State President and Australia’s former Minister for Immigration Hon. Phillip Ruddock, and NSW Liberal Party State Director Chris Stone.

“This is a historic achievement, one of Australia’s big two political parties in the country’s largest state has taken a principled stance on behalf of its 10,000-plus members to call on the Federal Government of Australia to stand on the right side of history on the Armenian Genocide, while declaring it stands on the right side of the present by recognising the rights to self-determination of the largely-occupied Armenian Republic of Artsakh,” said ANC-AU Executive Director Michael Kolokossian.

“As the people of Republic of Artsakh face their darkest days since the end of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh War, the NSW Liberal Party has sent an important message of solidarity and hope from over 14,000km away to the 100,000 Armenians braving threats to their existence in Artsakh.”

“We thank Councillor Trenton Brown for his leadership in championing this issue, and sincerely thank every delegate present for supporting this motion,” added Kolokossian.

The motion’s success is attributed to the long list of Armenian-Australians who have played a pivotal role in shaping the NSW Liberal Party’s policies around these two major issues of concern for the Armenian-Australian community, including former NSW Premier and former ANC-AU Board Member, the Hon. Gladys Berejiklian, City of Ryde Councillor Sarkis Yedelian OAM, former Senior Advisor to Federal Government Ministers, NSW Liberal Branch Member and ANC-AU National Board Member, Gisele Kapterian, NSW Liberal Branch Member, Armen Arakelian and many others.

Similar motions supporting the people’s right to self-determination of the Republic of Artsakh and condemning the criminal behaviour of Azerbaijan have also been adopted by the NSW Young Liberals, the ACT Young Liberals and most recently the National Young Liberal Convention earlier this year in January 2022.

The 2022 NSW State Liberal Conference was held on Saturday 6th August 2022, at the NSW Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney’s Western Suburbs with over 200 party members present.

Read the full motion below:

THAT State Council calls upon the Australian Government to:

1. Recognise the independence of the Republic of Artsakh;

2. Call out and condemn Azerbaijan’s 2020 war crimes against the indigenous Armenians of the Republic of Artsakh.

3. Call on Azerbaijan and Turkey to respect the OSCE Minsk Group peace process for the Karabakh /Artsakh conflict, in particular the non-use of force and the right to self-determination.

4. Call on Azerbaijan to release all Armenian prisoners of war remaining in forced captivity and condemn Azerbaijan’s desecration of ancient Armenian Christian and cultural sites

5.  Recognise the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides perpetrated by the Ottoman Government between 1915 to 1923.


Four dead as civilian car collides with Russian peacekeepers’ SUV in Artsakh

Lara Antonian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – Aug 12 2022
, 17:01

 Less than a minute

Four people were killed as a civilian vehicle collided with a Russian peacekeeping unit’s HAVAL H9 in Artsakh, according to Police.

The incident took place at 08:45 this morning at an intersection of Melikavan Street in Stepanakert.

The women are residents of Askeran region aged 50, 51, 52 and 56. The driver of VAZ-2107 survived the crash and is being treated for injuries at the Republican Medical Center.

The Artsakh Investigation Committee is investigating the causes of the crash.

UNICEF, USAID deliver ultracold freezers to Armenia

Nyrie Kalashian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – Aug 12 2022

In continuing efforts to support the Ministry of Health in COVID-19 vaccine roll out, UNICEF, with USAID funding, delivered the final shipment of planned cold chain equipment. This delivery strengthens Armenia’s National Cold Chain with 5 ultracold freezers, 205 freezers, and 110 refrigerators.

The ultracold freezers have a storage capacity of up to 300 liters for vaccines requiring ultra-low temperatures up to -86°C; meanwhile the freezers ensure vaccines and other medical products are properly stored at temperatures of -25˚C to -15˚C; and the refrigerators will keep the vaccines at temperatures of +2˚C to +8˚C.

USAID/Armenia’s Mission Director, John G. Allelo stressed, “A strong and enhanced cold chain that reaches primary health care facilities across the entire country is imperative for storing not only COVID-19 vaccines but also routine immunization vaccines. The delivered equipment will be installed where people get their basic health services and is critical to providing people and children with life-saving vaccines.”

“This essential support provided by USAID and UNICEF was in addition to the 80 refrigerators and 285 freezers delivered at the beginning of April and three walk-in cold rooms delivered in May. All the freezers and refrigerators are intended to be distributed to 250 primary health care facilities across the country. Cold rooms will be installed in Yerevan, and in Shirak and Vayots Dzor regions, enhancing access and availability of vaccines for all communities,” explained Lena Nanushyan, first Deputy Minister of Health of RA.

With USAID funding, UNICEF has also implemented awareness raising campaigns on COVID-19 and vaccinations. Further, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) USAID and UNICEF have trained over 5,000 vaccine managers and health providers (pediatricians, family doctors, and pediatric nurses) working in healthcare facilities to improve their skills and knowledge.

“The continued partnership between USAID, the Ministry of Health, NCDC, UNICEF and other national stakeholders is pivotal in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and in ensuring effective routine immunization, vaccinating those most vulnerable, especially children and women, to prevent, detect, and respond to future waves of COVID-19 and outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases,” said UNICEF Representative in Armenia, Christine Weigand.

"Stronger than life": a film about those who live and inspire to live after the war

Markos Nalchajian
ARMINFO
Armenia – Aug 12 2022

ArmInfo.A special screening of the film "Stronger than life" took place at the Cinema House. The film was created by LC production and tells about the wounded soldiers and the families of the fallen soldiers after the Second Artsakh War: their emotions and desire to live.

Both the heroes of the film and the beneficiaries of the “Power of One Dram” initiative took part in the screening of the film.

According to the producer of the film, Tsovinar Mkrtchyan, the film “Stronger than life” tells about people who lost their most precious and dearest in the war. “But despite this, most of them are fighting, acting, changing, living. And if they can, then we, at least, are obliged. This film is about being able to live at a time when life seems impossible and meaningless. The author of the idea of the film, Shushan Rafayelyan, infected us with her next great idea, which is based on love, high civic responsibility and a great desire to do a valuable thing,” says Tsovinar Mkrtchyan.

The film became a reality with the financial support of Idram.

According to Tatevik Vardevanyan, head of public relations department at Idram, the importance of the film lies in the fact that it shows post-war life not in the colors that most of us see: dark, condensed, often even colorless, but the strength that the characters found in themselves to get well, and also to help our society. That's why we decided to support the film. Let me remind you that the “Power of one dram” program is also about our collective strength, when Idram and IDBank, thanks to us, transfer one dram to various initiatives when paying through the Idram system. The total amount that companies have allocated to funds that carry out vital activities in our country is more than 90 million drams,” said Tatevik Vardevanyan.

IDBank and Idram donate one dram to the “Power of one dram” initiative every time you make a payment through the companies' platforms. Using the Idram&IDBank application, you can make payments in more than 10500 stores, in more than 900 online stores, as well as for 400+ services available in the system.

Turkish press: Start of direct trade between Türkiye, Armenia would be win-win: Foreign Ministry

Garnik Zakarian
Merve Aydogan   |11.08.2022


ANKARA

Direct trade between the neighbors of Türkiye and Armenia, long estranged but now seeking rapprochement, would be a "win-win" for both sides, according to a high-level Turkish Foreign Ministry official.

Speaking to a group of journalists, the official, who declined to be named, said trade between Türkiye and Armenia currently goes indirectly through neighboring Georgia and is worth $230 million, with approximately 15,000 trucks making the journey annually.

"If both parties can ensure the evolving of relations to a positive point by showing the necessary flexibility, this will be a win-win for both countries," the official added.

Noting that the current process between Türkiye and Armenia is more seen as a "trust-building process" rather than a normalization process for both sides, the diplomat stressed that both sides have adopted an approach of taking confidence-building steps, with each step supporting the next, and not setting great expectations that may cause major disappointment.

The official added that Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic and Armenian Deputy Parliament Speaker Ruben Rubinyan, the special envoys for reconciliation appointed last December by both sides, agreed to continue the process step by step.

"The current situation is not the desired picture in Turkish-Armenian relations and it is necessary to make an effort to evolve this picture into the desired one," the official added.

Confidence-building measures

On the confidence-building steps, the official said during their bilateral meeting on July 1, the special representatives agreed on two concrete proposals.

Stressing that the agreement by the envoys is not "the signing of a protocol" but rather reflects their agreement on two confidence-building measures to be taken in the coming days, the official added that they agreed to start work on realizing the confidence-building steps.

"It was written in a way not to slow down the process, but to avoid disappointments arising from excessive expectations in case there may be some problems experienced amid the process," the official added.

Expressing optimism in the next meeting set for September, the official said there are technical steps to be taken by authorities of the two countries, adding that there are many technical details.

"These (details) should only be determined by the experts of that subject coming together," the high-level official said, adding that each side is doing its own "homework" towards the next steps, identifying "the missing procedures or documents, determining the technical details needed."

"We hope for relevant authorities of each countries to come together, hopefully in September, without too much delay, and from there on we can be at a point that would enable exchange of views on technical issues and ensure quick implementation of the process."

The official also stressed that the situation on the ground is very different than anticipated from afar, pointing to the difficulties of renovating the infrastructure at border gates amid winter conditions.

"One foot of the historical Silk Road Bridge at the Ani Ruins is in Armenia and the other is in Türkiye," in the Kars province, the official added, saying that it was destroyed by Russian soldiers during the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian War, also known as the '93 war, based on the year 1293 in the Islamic calendar.

Stressing that repairing the historic bridge would be a "serious confidence-building step," the official added: "For all this to be done, the physical conditions must also be suitable. Such a thing can’t be tried during the winter months."

The first round of normalization talks was held in Moscow on Jan. 14, where both parties agreed to continue negotiations without any preconditions, according to a statement released after the meeting.

The Turkish and Armenian envoys met for the second time in Vienna on Feb. 24, and then on May 3 in the same city.

Also, a historic bilateral meeting took place between the foreign ministers of Türkiye and Armenia on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on the Turkish Riviera on March 12.

As part of the efforts, Türkiye and Armenia also resumed commercial flights as of Feb. 2 after a two-year hiatus.

Turkish press: Moscow accuses Kyiv of ‘nuclear terrorism’

Talar Tumanian
Ceyhun Alizade   |11.08.2022

ANKARA

Russia on Thursday accused Kyiv on the "nuclear terrorism," claiming that Ukrainian shelling of the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant could lead to a disaster worse than the notorious 1986 Chernobyl accident.

On Wednesday, the G-7 and EU voiced concern over the threats posed by Russia's possession of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, urging Moscow to hand over the war-torn country's nuclear facilities to the government in Kyiv.

The Zaporizhzhia station is Europe's largest nuclear power plant, producing around 20% of Ukraine's electricity.

On March 4, the Russian forces captured the facility with key strategical importance after they attacked Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Ivan Nechaev, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said reports about the proposal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to send its volunteers to participate in Russia's "special operation" in Ukraine is fake, adding that no such negotiations are ongoing.

Nechaev also said the calls of a number of countries to stop issuing Schengen visas to Russians is "an open manifestation of chauvinism."

"Switzerland, having joined the sanctions, has lost the status of a neutral state, therefore it cannot represent the interests of Kyiv in the Russian Federation," he told the reporters.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko said his country reached an agreement in principle with Switzerland on the representation of Ukrainian interests in the territory of Russia.

He also underlined that the recent US decision to allocate another package of military assistance to Kyiv "only delays the fighting."

Iranian nuclear deal

Nechaev stressed that Moscow notes the focus of all countries, including the US, on the speedy return to the implementation of the Iranian nuclear deal.

"A positive result in the negotiations on the restoration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is quite possible, there are no unresolvable issues between the parties," he said.

The nuclear deal was signed in 2015 by Iran, the US, China, Russia, France, the UK, Germany, and the EU.

Under the agreement, Tehran committed to limit its nuclear activity to civilian purposes and in return, world powers agreed to drop their economic sanctions against Iran.

Trump’s withdrawal in 2018, with the US re-imposing sanctions on Iran, prompted Tehran to stop complying with the nuclear deal.

The EU, as the coordinator of the deal, has made significant efforts to get Iran and the US back to the negotiating table since the beginning of the conflict.

Recent Karabakh tensions

Speaking on the recent heightened tensions in Azerbaijan's Karabakh, Nechaev said Moscow is in constant contact with the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides on the situation around Karabakh.

He emphasized that Moscow considers criticism of the work of Russian peacekeepers in the region as "unjustified."

Last week, Azerbaijan said it launched a retaliatory operation against Armenian forces in the Karabakh region after Armenia opened fire and killed an Azerbaijani soldier, according to its Defense Ministry.

Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of violating the fall 2020 agreement that ended the 44-day Karabakh War, with Azerbaijan dismissing the charge as "nothing but mere hypocrisy."

Azerbaijan has decried Armenia’s failure to fulfill the provisions of the agreement, particularly how Armenian armed forces have not yet fully pulled out of Azerbaijani territories.

Relations between the former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh (Upper Karabakh), a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

After new clashes during the fall of 2020, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and over 300 settlements and villages occupied by Armenia for almost 30 years.

The fighting ended in November 2020 with a Russia-brokered deal.

Turkish press: Ancient Kahta Castle reopens for visitors after 17 years

Kanayan Tamar
 ADIYAMAN, TÜRKIYE AUG 11, 2022 – 1:04 PM GMT+3

A view from the Kahta Castle, Adıyaman, southeastern Türkiye, Aug. 8, 2022. (AA)

Located in the Kahta district of Türkiye’s southeastern Adıyaman province, the Kahta Castle has been reopened to visitors following a 17-year comprehensive restoration.

The history of the Kahta district dates back to prehistoric times due to its proximity to Mesopotamia, the birthplace of numerous civilizations. Thanks to its geographical location, the settlement has hosted countless civilizations from ancient times to date. Hittites, Mitanni Kingdom, Assyrians, Late Hittites, Persians, and Alexander the Great of Macedonia, the Kingdom of Commagene and the Eastern Roman Empire are among the civilizations that ruled over Kahta.

A view from the Kahta Castle, Adıyaman, southeastern Türkiye, Aug. 8, 2022. (AA)

Founded by Mithridates I Callinicus, the Kingdom of Commagene dominated Mesopotamia and the great Euphrates between 109 B.C. and 72 A.D. Mithridates I Callinicus is claimed to share ancestry with Alexander the Great and Darius the Great, King of Persia. Commagene became a personification of the marriage of East and West, which can be seen in its culture. Although its people have traditions of the Greek and Persian cultures blended into one, the rulers of this kingdom did not hide their admiration for the Persian, Assyrian and Armenian cultures.

Gigantic statues of gods on Mount Nemrut have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987 and are one of the well-known archaeological pieces left by the Kingdom of Commagene in Adıyaman. The colossal sculptures are part of the temple-tomb commissioned around 49 B.C. by King Antiochos I of Commagene (69-34 B.C.) as a shrine to himself. Another important architectural wonder from the Kingdom of Commagene in the city is the Kahta Castle. Built by the Commagene people as an important headquarter together with Arsameia, which was a royal seat for the civilization, the castle bears the traces of three important civilizations. During the Roman period, the castle maintained its importance and was much developed. With the Mamluks dominating the region in the 1260s, the castle was restored and given its current shape.

Kahta Castle fascinates visitors with its bazaar, mosque, dungeon, and waterways. The castle, on the route to Mount Nemrut, was closed to visitors in 2005 for security reasons, and a comprehensive restoration process began. After intense work completed in three stages, the castle welcomes visitors with its former grandeur again.

Providing information about the long restoration period at the castle, Mahmut Çuhadar, governor of Adıyaman, told the Anadolu Agency (AA) that a glass terrace was built inside the castle as part of the "Revitalization of the Tourism Sector in Adıyaman" project. "Security strips of the walkways were also completed. The castle is now waiting for visitors," the governor added.

Noting that Kahta Castle is one of the best preserved historical castles in Türkiye, Çuhadar continued: "The castle is worth seeing. Our visitors will not regret it, we welcome domestic and foreign tourists here."

He also reminded that Adıyaman is a hidden paradise for tourists with great potential as it has various underground and surface resources.

Visitors walk towards the Kahta Castle, Adıyaman, southeastern Türkiye, Aug. 8, 2022. (AA)

Museum Director Mehmet Alkan said the castle has a magnificent appearance with its bastions, inner palace structure, a prayer room, and a dungeon.

"We have taken all security measures. We are waiting for our local and foreign visitors here,” Alkan said.

Susanne Kalla, a visitor from Austria to the Kahta Castle, said she could not visit the castle three years ago because it was closed to visitors.

"I am one of the luckiest people in the world to see this magnificent castle … I have seen many castles, but this place is very well preserved, I was very impressed,” she said.

A French visitor, Emmanuel Juste, said he is a travel guide in his hometown and would add his impressions of the castle to his travel book and update it.

Armenpress: Urartu FC signs Brazilian midfielder Marcos Júnior

Hovsep Chakrian

Urartu FC signs Brazilian midfielder Marcos Júnior

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 09:53,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 12, ARMENPRESS. Yerevan's Urartu Football Club has signed a contract with Brazilian midfielder Marcos Júnior.

Before moving to Urartu FC, Marcos played in such Brazilian clubs as Bangu-RJ, Vasco da Gama, representing the Brazilian Premier League (Serie A), and the second part of the season 2021/22 the player spent also in a football club that plays in Series A, Volta Redonda, Urartu FC said in a statement.

“We welcome Júnior and wish him successful performances and victories in Urartu FC. We'd like to add that in our team he will play under number 33,” the club said.